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The 2740 Ma Côté Gold Au(-Cu) deposit,
Canada: Example of porphyry-type
magmatic-hydrothermal ore-forming
processes in the Archean
Daniel J. Kontak, Laura Katz, Laurentian University
Benoit Dubé, Geological Survey of Canada
(Thanks to: D. Beilhartz, J. Rogers, V. McNicoll, R. Creaser,
B. Lafrance, J. Smith)
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+8 Moz Au (0.9 g/t Au) deposit centred on a 2740 Ma
magmatic-hydrothermal breccia complex!
Introduction
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Introduction: Where does Côté Gold fit?
Porphyry, IOCG, syeniteXX
XX
Robert et l 2007; Poulsen et al. 2000
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Summary of Work to Date [email protected]
Kontak, D.J., Creaser, R.A., and Hamilton, M. (2013): Geological and geochemical studies of
the Côté Lake Au(-Cu) deposit Area, Chester Township, northern Ontario. In Results from the
Shining Tree, Chester Township and Matachewan Gold Projects and the Northern Cobalt
Embayment Polymetallic Vein Project. Ontario Geol Survey, Miscellaneous Release Data 294.
Rogers, J.R., Beilhartz, D., Kontak, D.J., Katz, L. Dubé, B., and McNicoll, V. (2013): The Côté
Gold deposit: discovery of a new generation low-grade, multi-million oz gold resource in the
Archean Superior Province, Canada. Program Vol.. NewGenGold 2013, Perth, Australia., 159-174.
Katz, L.R., Kontak, D.J., Dubé, B., and McNicoll, V. (2015): The Archean Côté Gold intrusion-
related Au(-Cu) deposit, Ontario: A large tonnage, low-grade deposit centred on a magmatic-
hydrothermal breccia. In: Targeted Geoscience Initiative 4: Contributions to the Understanding of
Precambrian Lode Gold Deposits and Implications for Exploration, (eds) B. Dubé and P. Mercier-
Langevin; Geological Survey of Canada, Open File 7852, 139-155.
Katz, L.R. (2016): Geology of the Archean Côté Gold Au(-Cu) Intrusion-Related Deposit, Swayze
Greenstone Belt, Ontario, PhD thesis, Laurentian.
Smith, J. (2016): Integrated structural and geochemical study of auriferous sheeted quartz veins
in the 2740 Ma Côté Gold deposit, Swayze Greenstone Belt, Ontario, MSc thesis, Laurentian.
Katz, L.R., Kontak, D.J., Dubé, B., and McNicoll, V. (2016): Geology, Petrology and
Geochronology of the Archean Côté Gold Large-Tonnage, Low-Grade Intrusion-Related Au(-Cu)
Deposit, Swayze Greenstone Belt, Ontario, Canada. Canadian Journal Earth Sciences.
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Côté Gold 2740 Ma
Introduction
VMS, syenite, orogenic Au
deposits (<2710 Ma)
Dubé and Gosselin (2007)
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Introduction: Site visit Summer 2010Breccia (1-3/g/t) Breccia and stock work
Tonalite breccia
Sheeted fractures/veins
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1 km
Introduction – The Discovery!
Historical drill hole
(130m @ 1.3 g/t Au)
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zone ofelevated Cu
open
zone ofelevated Cu
open
E09 -02
E09 -02
E10
-04
1.1446.6
1.9971.6
0.6980.16
8.20107.1
1.396.8
1.45178.8
2.4957.3
0.938.8
E10-1
1
0.90107.9
0.6661.6
1.2727.0
E10
-12
E09
-03
E10
-04
0.5253.5
3.363.8
0.7238.9
8.772.10
8.0617.9
E10
-26
0.88292.0
E10
-20
E10
-05
1.3420.1
E10
-30
0-4
6
0.90388.0
E
Section 93+00E – facing SE
Ore envelope
136 m @ 1.2 g/t
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Introduction – The Discovery!
What is it?
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430000
Nature of the Sheeted Veins (?)
1 km
1
1
2
3
3
2. Quartz-sericite-pyrite-(carb)
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Côté Gold 2740 Ma
Regional Geology
Dubé and Gosselin (2007)
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Chester Group (2739-2734 Ma): subaqueous volcanics (felsic to
intermediate and mafic) and sediments (clastic and chemical (BIF))
Chester Intrusive Complex (2741 Ma): multiphase, laccolithic shaped,
subvolcanic suite of tonalite-diorite-gabbro
Regional Geological Setting
Facing directions
Mafic to felsic
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Regional Geological Setting(Gemmel 2015 OGS)
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Tonalites – East CIC
(Berger 20123)
Tonalite
Tonalite
Yeo Fm
Is the tonalite at the Côté
Gold deposit different
that regional tonalite and
if so why???
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Côté Gold Deposit Geology2740 Ma Tonalite I (Qtz-Plg (An30))
2740 Ma Diorite (Hbl-Plg (An50))
2740 Ma Magmatic-
hydrothermal biotite breccia
rota
ted
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Gold deposit
(+8 Moz Au @ 0.9 g/t)
Breccia type
Fracture type
Côté Gold Deposit Geology
AB
A
B
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0.5 mm
Deposit Geology: Tonalite (I, II)
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Hornblende diorite (and evolved phases)
Côté Gold Deposit: Diorite
Hbl geobarometry = 1.5 kbar
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Whole Rock Geochemistry
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Whole Rock GeochemistryC
ho
nd
rite
/Ro
ck
Pri
mit
ive
ma
ntl
e/R
oc
k
Tonalite (I, II)
Diorite suite
Diorite
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Breccia (magmatic/hydrothermal)
Côté Gold Deposit: Breccia
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top
bottom
Use of logging, petrography and
lithogeochemistry (>500 samples)
Qtz-Plag-Biot/Chl … vs Biot-rich
1 mm
Côté Gold Deposit: Breccia
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Gold deposit
(+8 Moz Au @ 0.9 g/t)
Breccia type
(disseminated)
Fracture type
AB
A
B
Nature of Mineralization (ca. 0.9 g/t Au)
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Nature of Mineralization (ca. 0.9 g/t Au)
1) Disseminated:
- F gr disseminated in
matrix of diorite breccia
and hydrothermal biotite
breccia
- Altered tonalite/diorite
2) Fracture and vein
controlled
3) Re-Os m,oly ages
(n=4) ca. 2740 MaVG
VGMoly
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Nature of Mineralization (ca. 0.9 g/t Au)
Hydrothermal breccia
(Mo-Cu-Ag-Zn-Te-Se-F)
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Nature of Mineralization – Miaroles (?)
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Alteration Types
Biotite Sericite Sodic(Silica) Epidote
Early Late
Breccia matrix BrecciaTonalite Diorite
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Magmatic breccia
Hydrothermal breccia
Alteration Types: Distribution
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1 mm 0.5 mm
Biotite Alteration (Biot-Mgt-Apt-Carb-Sulf)
1 mm
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Nature of Alteration: Biotite
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Nature of Alteration: Biotite (Qtz-Mag-Apt-Carb-Sulf)
Biotite altered tonalite (n=20)
Bast
All
Epid
50 μm 500 μm
Fe
FeT
Mg KP Zn
Cs
Ba
LREE
Li
Te
1 mm
Apt
Apt
F
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Nature of Alteration - Biotite
disseminations breccias (Au)
vein
s
Oxidation (?)
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Nature of Alteration – Sericite (Qtz-Ser-Carb-Py)
Si Al Fe FeT Mg Ca Na K Ti P Li Rb Cs Sr Ba La Ce Dy Yb Au Cu Zn Te Bi F S C LOI
Sericite altered tonalite (n=19)
Sericite altered diorite (n=5)
K Li
Rb
Cs
Ba
C
LOI
K Li
Rb
Cs
Ba
C
LOI
Au
Cu
F
S
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Nature of Alteration – Sodic (Alb-Rt-Tit-Fuch)
- Coincident with breccias
- Cross cuts units and ore zones
- Overprints earlier alteration types
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Nature of Alteration - Sodic
Titanite = 2740 Ma CA TIMS age
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Nature of Alteration - Sodic
Mass balance:
Tonalite = +Na2O, Sr(?)
Diorite = +SiO2, Al2O3, K2O,
Na2O, Rb, Cs, Ba, LREEs
Albite altered tonalite (n=9)
Albite altered diorite (n=9)
Si Al Fe FeT Mg Ca Na K Ti P Li Rb Cs Sr Ba La Ce Dy Yb Au Cu Zn Te Bi F S C LOI
Si Al Fe FeT Mg Ca Na K Ti P Li Rb Cs Sr Ba La Ce Dy Yb Au Cu Zn Te Bi F S C LOI
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Nature of Alteration - Sodic
Episyenites
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S Isotopes (Cpy, Moly, Cpy): δ34S = -1.5 to 1.0‰ (avg. 0‰)
δ34SH2S = 0‰
O Isotopes (Qtz veins) δ18O = 9.7 to 11.3‰ (avg. 10.0‰)
δ18OH2O @ 350-400°C = 4-7‰
O Isotopes (Carb veins): δ18O = 7.4 to 8.8‰ (avg. 8.4‰)
δ18OH2O @ 350-400°C = 3-6‰
C Isotopes (Carb.) δ13C = -0.9 to -4.4‰ (avg. -2.0‰)
δ13CH2CO3 @ 350-400°C = -5‰
Suggests mixing of fluid types – magmatic and
seawater (?)
Nature of Fluids (Stable Isotopes)
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Summary Côté Gold Deposit Formation
1. Amph-biot alt, breccias 2. Regional veins
3. Sericite (epid) 4. Sodic
MFMF
MF + SWSW + MF
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Summary Côté Gold Deposit Formation
Is this a porphyry-type system, if so what are the
implications for metallogeny and exploration?
J. Richard 2011
Diorite-tonalite complex
Fluids (K-Fe-Au)
Côté Au
Melts ??
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1 km
Two More Important Points(J. Smith MSc 2016)!
1. Candy Cane
2. South Breccia
1) Origin of the sheeted
quartz-sericite-pyrite
veins/alteration
2) Evidence for upgrading
due to deformation
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The Sheeted Veins
London DerryChester
Nebaskwasi
144
Sheeted veins and alteration haloes
pre-date regional deformation
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The Sheeted Veins
Lithogeochemical transect records same fluid-
isotopic signature as main Côté deposit!
10 cm
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Over Printng Deformation vs Au Grade
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Evidence for Au upgrading
due to deformation?